Sky writing



Nov. 19, 1929.

R. D. BAILEY ET AL 1,736,516

SKY WRITING File d Dec. 8, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 L I o o 0 p EE liq.a-

oo 0 0 s- 102* I 0 4 11 i 7 40 J00 INVENTORS O Q F/(l/l/PD 000614.554/15);

ATTORNEY Nov. 19, 1929. R. D. BAILEY El AL SKY WRITING Filed Dec. 8, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS i/[fl/IID 00061 146 54/15 Z 8 DOAIAA 5/4/15).

7 ATTORNEY Nov. 19, 1929. R. D. BAILEY ET AL 1,736,516

SKYKWRITING Filed Dec. 8, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 1.1 -fl J I b INVENTORS Mal/Am 00%614554/15), x 003/4 571/15).

BY z ATTORNEY Nov. 19', 1929. R. D. BAILEY ET AL 1,736,516

SKY WRITING Filed Dec. 8, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS HUM/P0 0006016 8/1/15? A D ORIAN BA IL E Y.

ATTORN EY 1929. R. D. BAILEY ET AL 1,736,516

SKY WRITING Filed Dec. 1923 5 Sheet -s 5 81 81 1- 53 15 INVENTORS PIC/ AFB Dal/61,46 BAILEK 12 J2 ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED IATES ATENT OFFICE sxY warrme Application filed December 8, 1923, Ser1a1 No. 6759,3595, and in Great Britain January 1, 1923.

By manoeuvring an aeroplane in flight in a suitable manner accompanied with the emission of smoke (under the pilots control) the smoke, when viewed from the ground has the appearance of writing, or other determination, appropriately called sky-writing.

Sky-writing, as at present carried out takes considerable time so that the original smoke trail becomes somewhat dissipated by the time the latter part of the delineation is accomplished, in addition it requires considerable skill on the part of the pilot, and is only possible under very favorable climatic conditions and onl visible by day.

The object 0 our invention is to overcome these difliculties, to produce new styles of delineations in the sky and sky-write at night as well as by day and this we accomplish in the following manner From an aeroplane in flight, at a suitable height, we impart, by convenient apparatus, relative trajectory to illuminating or smokepuif generating fireworks so that they shall have transiently relative positions one to the 25 other approximately in plane by reason of the relative direction and preferably also relative time and velocity of firing, thereby producing delineations in the sky characterized by being built up with a number of elements,

in a suitable manner for the purpose which need only be in a straight line down hill. The firing apparatus may constitute (a) an elaborate firework, (b) a large integral battery, or (0) a small battery or nest of machine guns, ar-

ranged so that the firing elements are at relative firing angles one to the other, Verys Brock signals and smoke-puff generating the works being preferably fired from (b) with relative charges of powder in view of the relative distance to which they are required to travel so as to be approximately in plane.

Springs, compressed gases or other well known means may be employed to impart 4 trajectory to the fireworks used.

The illuminating fired fireworks may have streamers, parachutes, or similar means of retarding their reci itation, thus maintaining an mtelligi le elineation longer than would otherwise be the case and these stream- 30 the aeroplane flying ers and parachutes may be caused to open out by the action of fuses.

Where smoke-puff generating fireworks are emplo ed they are timed to explode by the aid 0 fuses thereby generating the smokepuffs only after they have travelled a predetermined distance so as to generate the smoke-puffs approximately in plane.

The fireworks are preferably fired towards the earth through an aperture in the bottom of the aeroplane.

In the construction and mounting of the elaborate firework or firing apparatus, consideration is given to the eflect of the recoil and care taken that it does not cause any 05 of the fireworks to take a trajectory greatly different from that intended.

Care is also taken that the repeated firing does not synchronize with a natural period of oscillation of the aeroplane and that the fireworks have imparted to them and are capable of an accurate trajectory, being also uniformly constructed in size, weight and speed of burning so as to keep readily in plane in their precipitation, as this largely determines the radius or area over which the delineations are intelligible.

To determine an arcuate trajectory, the barrels of the firing apparatus may be rifled and the ball or bullet of the Verys or Verys Brock signal cartridges constructed of a metallic shell (so as to give grip to the rifling) and of magnesium or magnesium alloy (so as to readily burn) in which is packed the inflammable material as now commonly used and the cartridge casing preferably made entirely of metal the ball or bullet being fixed therein in the usual manner; this construction resembling the well known tracer bullet.

In carrying this invention into effect reference should be made to standard works or pyrotechnics, gunnery and aeronautics.

We now-describe our methods of firing and forms of apparatus for accomplishing the purpose.

The arrangement of the elaborate firework or firing apparatus is preferably such that several suitable fireworks can be fired simultaneously so as to have transiently rela .lines in planes approximately parallel to the line of flight of the aeroplane.

It will now be seen that by combining relative time and relative transverse direction (to the line of flight) of firing suitable fireworks from an aeroplane in flight it is possible to cause the fired fireworks to translently occupy relative positions one to the other in plane and that this may be so arranged that when viewed from the ground they will have collectively the appearance of an intelligible delineation.

As an example the capital letter E is delineated by firing first five suitable fireworks simultaneously across or transverse to the line of flightone to the extreme right, one half right, one central, one half left and one full left, these being'followed in time by firing simultaneously three fireworksone to the extreme right, one to the center and one to the extreme left,these being followed in time by two other fireworks fired, one to the extreme right and one to the extreme left. The capital letter E being thus built up or delineated by firing ten fireworks in the order 5, 3 and 2, or vice versa.

A modification of this process will permit of an intelligible delineation in two dimensions by firing simultaneously a number of fireworks in relative direction and in this modification the fireworks would be fired simultaneously as if to occupy relative ositions one to the other on an imaginary p ane.

This modification may be combined with relative time of firing so that one or more letters or numerals would be formed with a volley by reason of relative direction to be followed in time by others.

\Vhere a large integral battery is used the gun or pistol barrels are loaded with Verys, Verys Brock signals, or other cartridges, preferably constructed for the purpose, and bolted orscrewed to a base platehavinganumber of faces at angles one to the other so that when the barrels are bolted or screwed home they all point in diflerent directions in accordance with the delineation required.

Upon the other side of the base plate firing hammers, actuated by springs, together with a. trigger mechanism (to which the firing hammers are linked.) is arranged and is under the pilots control by the use preferably of a Bowden wire.

When desired the pilot moves a lever which operates the Bowden wire and thus by the aid of the trigger mechanism .releases the hammers to detonate the cartridges. This arrangementdelineates by relative direction of firing only.

Where one delineation (produced by relative direction only) after another is required a rotary machine is preferably used, integral batteries, as in the former case, being bolted to a wheel which is rotated by the use of an air screw under the pilots control by the aid of a Bowden wire which operates a break or clutch so as to control the transmission of movement to the wheel.

As the wheel rotates one battery after another is brought into position for firing, the

trigger mechanism being operated by a cam (fixed so that it does not rotate) so that as the wheel rotates one battery after another fires to produce one delineation after another.

WVhere relative transverse direction to the line of flight together with relative time of firing is required by the use of a large battery the battery is preferably of a rotary form the pistol barrels being arranged at relative angles one to the other across the face and to the axis of the wheel. This ar ranges for the relative transverse direction of firing. Relative time of firing is arranged by the position which the barrels occupy one to the other around the periphery of the wheel which is rotated by the aid of an air screw, as in the former case, and as the wheel rotates the firing mechanism is actuated by coming in contact with a fixed cam so that the guns are fired in time according to their position around the periphery of the wheel and in direction in accordance with their position across the face of the wheel.

Where a small battery or nest of machine guns are employed they are mounted on a suitable frame so as to point in different directions, the trigger mechanism being preferably controlled by the rotation of a drum to which is bolted a series of projections or selectors which actuate, by lever mechanism, the triggers.

Where rockets are employed they are preferably fired by a net work of fuses.

Having thus set forth our new method of sky-writing or printing and indicated in general the kinds of apparatus we employ in the practical application of our invention, we shall now proceed to describe more in detail the apparatus preferably employed and the manner of carrying out our invention in the use thereof, it being, of course, particularly understood that we do not confine ourselves to the particular construction herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings as it is obvious that numerous modifications can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of our invention.

In the drawings Figure 1 is an elevation of a type of firing gear for use in conjunction with an aeroplane to delineate by arrangement in relative direction of firing only.

Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 2--2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an inverted view or bottom lane of the apparatus shown in the precedmg figures.

Figure 4 is an elevation looking in the direction of the arrow (a) in Figure 1, one bridge member only being shown.

Figure 4 is a detail view of the nut and screw devices used in setitng the trigger mechanism.

Figure 5 is a plan (top) view of the apparatus shown in the preceding figures (one bridge piece only being in place).

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a firing gear of a rotary type for use in conjunction with an aeroplane to delineate by arrangement in transverse direction to the line of flight and relative time of firing.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross section on the line 77 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan of a type of elaborate firework for use in conjunction with an acroplane to delineate by arrangement in relative time and transverse direction of firing rockets (the top lid of the fuse gallery being omitted).

Figure 9 is a cross section on the line 9 9 of Figure 8, (the top lid of the fuse gallery being in place).

Figure 10 is a detail cross section taken approximately on the line 10-10 of Figure 8.

Figure 11 is a detail cross section taken on the line 1111 of Figure 8.

Figure 12 is a detail cross section taken on the line 12-12 of Figure 8.

Figure 13 is a side elevation of an aeroplane showing a firing gear of the rotary type (such as is shown in Figures 6 and 7) arranged therein.

Figure 14 is a detail section of an aeroplane wing showing one wav of mounting the firing mechanism of the kind disclosed in Figures 1 to 5.

Figure 15 is a diagrammatic view illustrating .how a firing apparatus delineates by arrangement in relative direction of firing (the illustration is of an aeroplane in flight with firing gear on board and delineating the letter E In the drawings in which like numerals and letters of reference indicate the same parts in all of the figures, 1 represents an aeroplane of the usual construction and 2 indicates the wings thereof, the wings having the usual longrons 3 between which the firing gear of the type illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive may be mounted (see Figure 14) lVhen the aeroplane is to be equipped with firing gear to delineate each character by arrangement in relative direction of firing only, we prefer a mechanism of the type disclosed in Figures 1 to 5,by reference to which it will be seen there is a base plate 4 having sides 5, each with a number of faces (five being shown), at angles one to the other to which a corresponding number of bridge pieces 7 are fixed in any suitable way as by screws 8 (see Figure 5).

The bridge pieces 7 each have three faces 9 on their bottom arranged at angles one to the other. When the base plate 4 and the bridge pieces 7 are assembled they together form a base having fifteen faces, all of which are at angles one to the other. To some of these faces are fixedthe pistol barrels 10, 10 10 10 10 10, 10 10 10*, and 10 by the screws 11 shown.

lVhe-n the pistol barrels are screwed in place they are all atangles one to the other and therefore point and fire in different directions.

Ten pistol barrels are arranged in the manner shown in Figure 3 to delineate the letter E.

It is obvious that the number of faces, and

relative angles one to the other, on the base plate 4 and bridge pieces 7, together with the nulnber and formation of the faces of the pistol barrels can be modified to arrange for the production of any reasonable delineation.

Upon the other side of the fifteen faces formed by the assembly of the base plate 4 and bridge pieces 7 are arranged the firing hamnier devices 12, there being one for each pistol barrel. These firing hammer devices each comprise a casing 13 screwed into the bridge pieces 7 as at 1 1. The firing hammer devices also include a firing pin or hammer proper 15 having a head 16 between which and the other .end of the casing 13 a spring 17 is located and functions to impel the firing pins to the firing position.

The firing hammers 15 are all linked to a common trigger mechanism by flexible wires 18, one end of each being soldered into holes drilled into the firing hammers, while their other ends pass through the hollow bolt 19 of the trigger mechanism and are soldered to the bolt at its head 20. The bolt 19 has a circular recess 21 (Figure 2) by which it is locked when in the cocked position.

The trigger mechanism is supported on the top side of the base plate 5 between two columns 22 and a bridge piece 23 in which is drilled a hole 24 through which the bolt 19 passes.

Upon the bridge piece 23 is secured a block 25 in which is drillcd two holes 26 and 27 at right angles to and partly intersecting each other. The hole 26 lines up with the hole 24. In the hole 26 slides the bolt 19 and in the hole 27 partly rotates a trigger rod 28 in which is machined a circularrecess 29 (Figure 2) to permit the bolt 19 to slide.

When the bolt 19 is in the cocked position the recess 21 coincides with the trigger rod 28 so that it (the trigger rod) can rotate clockwise from the views shown in Figures 2 and 4 into the recess in the bolt 19 (Figure 2) thereby locking it in the cocked position.

Screwed in each end of the trigger rod 28 and on either side\of the block 25 are two levers 30 and 31 (Figure 1) by which the trigger rod 28 is rotated. To the lever 30 is attached one end of a spring 32, the other end of the spring being fixed by a screw to one of the columns 22 (Figure 5). The spring 32 tends to rotate the rod 28 so that it enters the recess 21 in the bolt 19 (Figure 2).

To the other end of the lever 31 of the trigger rod 28 is attached the inner member 33 of a Bowdcn wire (Figures 4 and 5) which, when actuated, by moving the rod 35 toward the T piece 36, causes the trigger to rotate against the action of the spring 32 and out of the recess 21 (Figure 2) in the bolt 19 thereby releasing it.

A stop 37 for the outer member 34 of the Bowden wire is screwed to one of the columns 22 (Figures 4 and 5).

To raise the bolt 19, its head 20 is first turned. around ninety degrees (Figure 5) when the nut 38 at the bottom of the hollow screw 39 (Figure 4) can be fitted onto the rod 40 fixed to the bridge piece 23.

The head 20 of the bolt 19 is turned back (Figure 5) so as to fit onto the top of the nut 38 and the hollow screw is now turned around by the aid of the nut shown, thereby screwing up the nut 38 which is unable to rotate owing to its flat face 41 being held by the rod 40 against the rectangular block 25 and as the nut 38 "is screwed up the hollow screw 39 (Figure 2) it carries with it the bolt 19, to which the firing pins or hammers 15 are linked by the flexible wires 18, against the action of the springs 17.

When the bolt 19 is at the right position, fully cocked, the spring 32 is able to rotate the trigger rod 28 into the recess 21 out in the bolt 19, thereby holding it in position and at the same time causing the rod 35 (Figure 1) to move back away from the T piece 36 viz The levers 30 and 31 and the inner member 33 of the Bowden wire.

The nut 38 is now screwed down to the bottom of the screw 39 when the nut 38 and screw 39 can be lifted off the rod 40 (Figure 4") and the firing mechanism is now cocked ready to detonate.

To load or reload the firing gear the pistol barrels are unscrewed from the faces, the old cartridges or cases ejected and the hammers partially cocked by placing the screw 39 in position on the rod 40 and giving it a few turns; fresh cartridges are then inserted and the barrels 10*,10", 10, etc., screwed home; the hammers are then fully cocked in the manner heretofore described; the nut and screw removed and the machine is ready t fire.

Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the construction of firing gear of a rotary type for use in conjunction with an aeroplane to delineate by arrangement in transverse direction to the line of flight and relative time of firing. v

The firing gear in this embodiment of our invention is mounted on the aeroplane (see Figure 13) so that its axis is at right angles to the line of flight and approximately parallel to the Wings of the aeroplane.

The disks 42 (Figure 7) are mounted so that they can rotate on an axle 43 which is fixed to a frame 44. The two disks 42 have secured to them a barrel or rim 45, the two disks together with the barrel, when assembled, form a wheel with the part 45 as its rim or periphery.

Upon the inner side of the rim or periphery 45 is mounted firing hammers 46, one for each pistol barrel, which hammers are actuated by springs 47, the hammers and springs being arranged in suitable casings 48 screwed into the periphery 45. Such number of hammers 46 are linked by the flexible wires 49 to pins 50 of the levers 51 as lie in the same position around the periphery 45 but in different positions across the face of the periphery 45.

Springs 52 having one of their ends attached to the lovers 51 and the other ends attached to the disk 52, actuate the levers 51, thereby compensating the hammers 46 for the inertia of the levers 51.

One of the ends of each of the levers 51 is pinned (pivoted) to a disk 42 by the bolts 53 and the other end of each lever passes through the respective slot 54 provided for it in one of the disks 42 so that as the wheel rotates the-projecting ends of the levers 51 successively make contact with and are actuated by the cam 55 which is secured to the frame 44 by the screws 56 shown (Figure 6) whereupon the levers 51 are caused, in moving over the cam 55, to raise up to a position shown dotted in Figure 7, so lifting the hammers 46 against the action of the springs 47, viz :The pins 50 and the flexible wires 49.

As the Wheel rotates it carries the levers over the cam 55 (Figure 6) until a point is reached where the cam, after having caused the levers 51 to rise up, releases them, where upon the springs 52 (Figure 7) and 47 are enabled to drive down the levers 51 one at a time and hammers 46 from one tofive at a time to detonate.

Upon the other side of the periphery 45 five faces 57 are machined around the Wheel at angles one to the other to which the pistol barrels 58 are secured around and across the periphery '45 of wheel so that they are at angles one to the other pointing in direction (transverse to the line of flight) in accordance to their position across the periphery 45 of the wheel.

Movement is transmitted to the wheel by the air screw 59 (Figure 6) which is fastened to ashaft 60 having a cog 61 and brake drum *time accordin 'to their position around the 62 afiixed thereto. A brake shoe 63, actuated into contact with the brake drum 62 b a sprin 64, is controlled by a lever 65, re 66 and t 1e inner member 67 of the Bowden wire. A stop 69 for the outer member 68 of the Bowden wire is clipped to the tube 70.

\Vhen the Bowden wire is actuated itmoves the lever 65 which pulls the brake shoe 63 (via the rod 66) against the action of the spring 64 off the brake drum 62, thereby allowing the air screw 59 to rotate and transmit movement to the wheel, viz :-The shaft 60, cogs 61, 71, shaft 72, worm 73 and crown wheel or worm wheel 74, aflixed to the disk 42 in the casing 75 to the wheel or drum.

As the wheel rotates it fires the pistols in wheel which determines the articular lever to which they are linked an the pistols fire in direction transverse to the line of flight according to the particular face to which they screwed across the periphery of the wheel.

Referring now to Figures 8 to 12 inclusive wherein is illustrated the construction of a type of elaborate fire work for use in conjunction with an aeroplane to delineate by arrangement in relative time and transverse direction of firin rockets, it will be seen that a base plate 76 is provided having five rows of guide rods 77 (Figure 9) secured (screwed) to its bottom so that each of the five rows of guide rods are at angles to the rods inany other row but parallel one to the other in the same row. Thus a guide rod points in direction according to its position across the base plate.

On some of the rods 77 are fitted rockets 78 and from these rockets fuses 79 go through holes 80 drilled in the base plate 7 6 u to the fuse gallery 81 which is supported y columns 82.

The fuse gallery has a number of holes 83 drilled in its underside through which the fuses 79 pass to the powder in the gallery 81, a lid 84 having suitable vent holes 85 (Figures 10 and 11) being screwed on top of the fuse gallery 81 by the screws shown (Figures 11 and 12).

The powder in the gallery 81 is ignited at one end by the aid of the detonating gear shown in Figure 12, in which a hammer 86 actuated by a spring 87 is cooked by pulling the knob 88 until the projection 89 on the lever spring 90 is able to enter the recess 91 ing the hammer 86.

To the lever spring 90 the inner member 92 ,of the Bowden wire is attached and when this wire is actuated it pulls the projection 89 out of the recess 91 in the hammer 86, thereby releasing it to detonate an ignition cap 94 fitted in the plug 95 screwed in the lid 84 of the fuse gallery 81.

The outer member 93 of the Bowden wire is connected to the stop 96 mounted on the base plate 76.

As the powder burns along the fuse gallery 81 it ignites the fuses of the rockets 78 in time according to their position along the allery 81, in this case igniting first the two uses shown at the bottom of Figure 8, then the three fuses next along the gallery 81 and so on to the end.

The rockets are thus fired in time according to their position along the base plate 76 and in direction according to their position across the face of the base plate 76 or in direction according to the row of guide rods and in time according to the position of the guide rods from an end of the base plate 76.

In Figure 14 we have illustrated how the firing gear described with reference to Figures 1 to 5 can be arranged on a aeroplane by the use of a lank 97 under each of the wings across the ongrons 3 to which they are clamped, and to these planks are screwed the firing machines (type shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive) by the1r base plates.

Figure 15 shows how a firing apparatus delineates, illustrating the arrangement in relative direction of firing and showing an aeroplane in flight with firing gear on board and delineating the letter E;

It will be observed that in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and 14, each letter is formed by the simultaneous firing ofthe several groups of pistols necessary to delineate a single complete character, whereas with the apparatus employing the type of our invention illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 the various groups of pistols arranged in transverse direction to the line of flight are successively fired in each group, all pistols of a single group being fired in unison.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figures 8 and 12 inclusive the transverse groups of rockets are fired successively in groups, all rockets of a group being fired simultaneously.

The firing of one group with respect to the firing of the next grou is subject to a predetermined time interva That is to say with the apparatus disclosed in Figures 6 and 7 the timing is predetermined by the speed of the aeroplane effecting the rotation of the drum, the time intervals between successive groups being determnied by the distance one group from another as well as by the speed of rotation of the drum.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 8 to 12 the time is predetermined by the time it takes the powder in the fuse gallery to burn from one group of fuses to the next succeeding group.

With the use of the apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 4' inclusive the time interval between the firing of one letter group to the firing of the next letter group for example is determined manually by the operator of the aeroplane.

What we claim is:

1. In the art of sky writing or printing the method which consists in holdingan airplane in substantially a straight course and at definite intervals firing from said airplane in a direction substantially transverse to the line of flight, successive groups of suitable fireworks producing efi'ects visible from the ground, thereby formin successive letters, numerals or symbols, an so controlling the action of said fireworks that said letters, numerals or symbols will substantially appear as located in one ans.

2. In the art o sky writing or printing, the method which consists in printing the symbols by the firin transversely to the line of flight of timeused fireworks in predetermined symbol-forming groups while the airplane is in flight on a substantlally straight course, thereby building up words and phrases without manipulation of the airplane.

3. In sky writing or printin the method of "producing determined inte'igible pyrotechnical delineation in thesky, said method com rising the firing from an airplane suitable fireworks, producing efiects visible from the ground, in predetermined transverse directions to the line of flight and predetermined relative time of firing, substantially as specified.

4. In the art of sky writing or printing, the combination with an airplane, of a number of pyrotechnical firing elements mounted on said airplane, said elements being arranged to fire fireworks at predetermined relative and diverging angles in a enerally transverse direction to the line of ight, and means on the airplane, controlled by an operator, for operating said firing elements in predetermined groups and at predetermined times for the purposes described.

5. In the art of sky writing or printing, the combination with an airplane, of means mounted thereon for firing suitable fireworks transversely of the line of flight, said means comprising groups of fireworks guns, the

guns in a group diver 'n from-one another in a single plane, and t e p anes of the various groups diverging from one another, and mechanism controlled by an operator on the airplane for actuating the groups of guns in predetermined firing order while the airplane maintains a substantially straight course for the purposes specified.

6. In the art of sky writing or rinting, the combination with an airplane, o a pluraltiy of tubes for firing suitable fireworks, said tubes being arranged at relatively diverging angles one to the other and provided with relative charges according to the distance the fireworks must travel in a given time, and means including a net-work of fuses linking said tubes together, whereby to fire said charges at predetermined times under control of an operator on the airplane for the purposes lslpecified.

7. e method of producing visible letters, numerals or symbols in the air which comprises holding an aircraft in a substantiall straight course and firin from said aircra t groups of visible-mater1al-emitting rojectiles in directions so that the-plura ity of visible efiects thus produced coact to form the desired numeral, letter or symbol.

8. The method of producing visible signals in the air, which com rises olding an aircraft in a substantial y straight course and firing from said aircraft groups of visiblematerial-emitting projectiles in the air and in different directions so that the plurality of visible effects thus produced coact to form the desired signal.

In witness whereof we have signed this specification.

RICHARD DOUGLAS BAILEY. DORIAN BAILEY. 

